Abstract: An arthroscope cannula including inner and outer intimately engaged concentric tubes with the inner tube having a longitudinally extending wall depression defining, in conjunction with the outer tube, a pressure passage. The inner tube receives the scope which is restrained therein by the wall depression to define an inflow fluid passage. The outer tube is selectively removable from about the inner tube with both tubes mounting on and projecting from a flow controlling and directing bridge assembly.

Abstract: A combined blood reservoir/pump for heart/lung bypass surgery includes a chamber having an upper reservoir chamber and a lower pump chamber with a passage connecting the reservoir chamber and the pump chamber. An inlet positioned adjacent an upper end of the housing supplies blood to the reservoir. An impeller is positioned in the pump chamber and is driven by a shaft which has its lower end connected to the impeller and an upper end connected to a drive motor which is mounted near the top end of the housing. An outlet is connected to the pump chamber for supplying blood from the combination blood reservoir/pump.

Abstract: A cardioplegia administration set including a heat exchanger, a bubble trap, a three-end connector, a normally-closed, pressure-responsive valve and interconnecting tubing. A first tubing means having an inlet adapted to be connected to a source of cardioplegia solution and an outlet connected to an inlet of the three-end connector interconnects inlets and outlets of the heat exchanger and the bubble trap therebetween so that a solution passageway is established from the source of cardioplegia solution through the heat exchanger and the bubble trap to an end of the three-end connector adapted to connect to an injection catheter. A second tubing means has an inlet connected to a recirculation outlet of the three-end connector and an outlet adapted to be connected to the source of cardioplegia solution so that a solution passageway is established from the three-end connector through the normally-closed valve back to the source of cardioplegia solution when the valve is open.

Abstract: A kink-resistant, dual-drainage, venous return catheter preferably completely comprised of a polyvinyl chloride material and molded in a conventional injection molding process. This catheter comprises a smaller portion dimensioned to be received in a vena cava, a larger portion and a transition portion between the two other portions. In one embodiment, the transition portion comprises means for stinting the larger portion so that it can't enter the vena cava, a plurality of inlet openings and a plurality of reinforcing channels connecting the inlet openings to the larger portion so that fluid entering the inlet openings is channeled into the larger portion. All of these openings are preferably peripherally chamfered on the inside generally away from the smaller catheter portion and on the outside generally towards and away from the smaller catheter portion.

Abstract: An orbital saw for use in orthopedic applications such as cutting bones including a one-piece, externally mounted saw blade that can be quickly and easily replaced by unlocking a pair of blade clamps. The saw can be battery operated. The battery is keyed and locked with a hand grip by a release lever to form a handle. The battery can be unlocked and replaced when it becomes run down.

Abstract: A tubing set, the major portions of which are defined from a trilumen section of tubing, comprises three lines including an inflow line, an outflow line and a pressure sensing line. The inflow line includes a header portion engageable about the rollers of a peristaltic pump, a delivery tube mounting a male luer fitting for engagement with a patient cannula, and a pair of clampable supply tubes with bag spikes for communication with saline bags. The pressure sensing line includes a pressure transmitting elongate tubular diaphragm mounted within a fluid chamber directly adjacent the patient end of the line. The pressure transmitting diaphragm communicates with an elongate dry or air tube which, at the remote end, communicates with an appropriate pump-mounted pressure transducer or the like.

Abstract: Rapid mechanical admixing of blood products at a storage temperature of 4.degree. C. with a saline solution in a temperature range of 50.degree.-70.degree. C. results in a mixture temperature sufficient to prevent hypothermia upon transfusion, which temperature rise per volume of the blood products is at a rate commensurate with the flow rate of transfusion equipment while not exceeding the temperature tolerance of the erythrocytes.

Abstract: Blood flow rate in a motor driven centrifugal blood pump is measured indirectly and non-invasively by sensing a first parameter representative of pump RPM and a second parameter representative of motor torque. The blood flow rate is computed as a function of the first and second parameters. By measuring the second parameter in a zero flow condition while the motor is being driven at a known RPM, a viscosity calibration factor is determined which is used, together with the first and second parameters in the calculation of flow rate.

Abstract: A pump header for use in a peristaltic pump. The pump header includes a flexible outer tube, a collapsible-expandable inner tube, a pressure control valve member and a one-way-flow valve member. The inner tube is disposed within a passageway of the outer tube. The pressure control valve member and the one-way-flow valve member are responsive to positively-pressured liquid at an inlet to the inner tube and allow the liquid to enter a passageway of the inner tube from which the fluid can be pumped by the action of the peristaltic pump. The positively pressured liquid can only pass from the one-way-flow valve member.

Abstract: A surgical instrument including a reusable handle and a removable sheathed blade assembly comprising an elongate sheath with a plurality of elongate surgical blades longitudinally received within said sheath and selectively projectable therefrom along guided paths for exposure of the working heads of the blades. The working heads define, respectively, a cutting head and a gripping head. The sheathed assembly is introduced an operating site whereat the gripping head is exposed and engaged with tissue to be cut. The cutting head is subsequently moved into cutting engagement with the gripped tissue, after which both blades are retracted into the sheath and the sheathed blades removed from the operating site.

Abstract: A medical catheter and a method for infusing blood into a patient. The medical catheter has first and second inlet openings, an outlet opening, a passageway connecting the openings, and a flexible valve member between the inlet openings. The valve member controls the size of the passageway between the inlet openings. The method includes inserting a conventional occlusion catheter into the medical catheter through the valve member and extending the tip of the occlusion catheter beyond the outlet opening of the medical catheter so that the blood vessel within the patient can be restrained.

Abstract: A casting article and method for forming an orthopedic cast around an animal body part. The article comprises a unitary blank having first and second lateral free edges. The blank is dimensioned and the free edges are shaped to extend the length of the body part and to at least circumferentially envelop the body part. The blank includes a pliant, extensible layer of a foam member, an extensible fabric bonded to the foam member and a curable resin which, upon activation of the resin and closure of the lateral free edges of the blank around the body part, results in the orthopedic cast.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising an elongate reusable handle and disposable, interchangeable sheathed blade modules. Each sheathed blade module including an elongate tubular sheath having a laterally arced blade guiding forward end portion of either a cylindrical or tubular configuration. The arced portion defines a guide path for a blade received within the sheath. The blade, through interconnection with a slide member on the handle module, is selectively moved between a first protected position entirely within the sheath and a second position wherein the surgical tip portion of the blade is exposed. Outward movement of the blade tip portion is directed along a predetermined path by the curved forward end portion of the sheath, while at the same time providing for a complete exposure of the blade tip portion beyond the structure of the sheath. The slide member of the sheath is controlled by a single finger of the one hand used to hold the handle module.

Abstract: An implant for use in a human body having an integral attachment surface adapted to permit tissue ingrowth. The attachment surface has an inner attachment surface and a multiplicity of spaced posts projecting from the inner attachment surface. The posts each have side attachment surfaces which are generally cylindrically concave, intersect to define post edges, and are radiused at their intersections with the inner attachment surface. A method of forming the attachment surface on an implant with a laser is also included.

Abstract: An irrigation system for use in arthroscopic surgery including a variable RPM pump for introducing irrigation fluid from a fluid supply to a body irrigation site, a pressure control valve in the outflow from the irrigation site, a pressure sensor and associated controller for sensing pressure at the site and adjusting the pressure control valve for maintenance of the pressure within predetermined parameters, an override controller responsive to an inability to maintain pressure within the set parameters and responsive thereto to vary the flow rate of the pump, and associated display and signal components. The flow rate and pressure are individually and independently controllable.

Abstract: Apparatus for positioning a prosthetic acetabular cup within an acetabulum during total hip replacement surgery. The apparatus includes a pusher ball, a pusher arm affixed to the pusher ball, a positioner arm, and a positioner flange affixed to the positioner arm. The apparatus also includes a slot within the flange dimensioned to receive a part of the pusher arm so that the flange can be faced with the pusher ball. The apparatus can affix the flange facing the ball to define a predetermined angle between the pusher arm and the positioner arm. This apparatus also releasably secures the ball generally mated with the acetabular cup, so that the positioner flange and the positioner arm can be released and removed from the remainder of the apparatus while the pusher ball remains within the acetabular cup to maintain uninterrupted pressure on the acetabular cup via the pusher arm.

Abstract: An implant for use in a human body having an integral attachment surface adapted to permit tissue ingrowth. The attachment surface has an inner attachment surface and a multiplicity of spaced posts projecting from the inner attachment surface. The posts each have side attachment surfaces which are generally cylindrically concave, intersect to define post edges, and are radiused at their intersections with the inner attachment surface. A method of forming the attachment surface on an implant with a laser is also included.

Abstract: A hypothermic protection pad for topically cooling an internal organ. The pad includes a flexible outer pouch, a flexible bladder within the pouch, a biocompatible liquid within the bladder and a thermal insulating layer within the pouch and adjacent one side of the bladder. Methods of achieving hypothermic protection of internal organs with cooling pads are also included.

Abstract: A heat-sealable, laminated package for hermetically sealing an object in a pouch of the package. The package has means for facilitating manual tearing the pouch along a predetermined path. The facilitating means includes two closely-spaced stiffened portions on opposite sides of the predetermined path and cut means at one end of the predetermined path for facilitating tearing the pouch along the predetermined path and between the two closely-spaced stiffened portions.

Abstract: An integral prosthetic acetabular cup assembly and a method for making the same including an inner liner contacting an outer backing and a plurality of spacers mechanically entrapped between the inner liner and the outer backing. The spacers may be made of a material different from that of the inner liner and of the outer backing.